11.09.13 Magnus Carlsen had the white pieces in the first game of the World Championship Match, got nothing out of the opening and, in fact, was slightly worse after a dozen or so moves. The position was repeated and on move 16 the game was drawn. Match rules prohibit draw offers before move 30 but the players sidestepped this requirement with the triple repeat draw. Game 2 will take place Sunday, November 9th at 4:30 a.m. eastern time.

In the post-game press conference Anand referred to some lines in the opening as "pretty obscure stuff." For Carlsen's part he indicated he wanted to "pull the emergency brake" after move ten and admitted that he did something wrong in the opening and had to get out. Carlsen said a draw with white was unsatisfactory but there was no damage done and he looks forward to the next game.

Match commentators referred to Carlsen's opening choice as "classic Carlsen" in that he avoided the more well-trodden lines of opening theory and went for a playable game. Unfortunately for him, and because of alert play on the part of the world champion, Carlsen's opening with white went nowhere.

All the games of the Match can be found here.

Official Match Website

Official Schedule

Time control is 40 moves in 2 hours followed by 20 moves in 1 hour then 15 minutes for the remainder of the game with a 30 second increment beginning on move 61.

Times are on the east coast of the U.S.

11.07.2013 Opening Ceremony 5:30 A.M.
11.09.2013 Game 1 4:30 A.M.
11.10.2013 Game 2 4:30 A.M.
11.11.2013 Rest Day
11.12.2013 Game 3 4:30 A.M.
11.13.2013 Game 4 4:30 A.M.
11.14.2013 Rest Day
11.15.2013 Game 5 4:30 A.M.
11.16.2013 Game 6 4:30 A.M.
11.17.2013 Rest Day
11.18.2013 Game 7 4:30 A.M.
11.19.2013 Game 8 4:30 A.M.
11.20.2013 Rest Day
11.21.2013 Game 9 4:30 A.M.
11.22.2013 Game 10 4:30 A.M.
11.23.2013 Rest Day
11.24.2013 Game 11 4:30 A.M.
11.25.2013 Rest Day
11.26.2013 Game 12 4:30 A.M.
11.27.2013 Rest Day
11.28.2013 Tie Break Games To be decided
11.29.2013 Closing Ceremony To be decided